'Forced shakedown' at Woolworths checkout has shoppers outraged
- Replies 27
We all love a good rant every now and then, especially when it comes to those little everyday frustrations. It's in those moments that we often discover we're not alone, and our fellow Aussies might have the same concerns.
Just the other day, there was this Woolworths shopper who made a video expressing their frustration about the supermarket's 'forced philanthropy' at the self-serve checkouts. The video caught the attention of many people on the internet and got quite a discussion going.
In the fiery video uploaded to social media, the passionate customer expressed her fury at the donation prompt that pops up when you're trying to pay for your groceries at the self-serve register.
The prompt asks customers if they'd like to round up their shopping total to a whole dollar, donating the excess to non-profit organisations. While people are free to tap 'yes' or 'no' to the donation, the situation has ignited a heated debate on the issue.
'Has anyone else just had a gutful of this forced philanthropy shakedown every time you go to the supermarket?' the frustrated woman asked in the video.
She continued: 'And I know what you're going to say, you can say to me “Oh, you know you can just say no” or “You can just press no”... But here's the thing. I do press no because I'm just morally opposed to multibillion-dollar companies doing shakedowns of consumers when they just want to buy red grapes and tampons.'
To address the retailer directly, she added, 'No, I don't want my 85c refund. What I do want is for you, as a multi-million-dollar conglomerate, to start making these donations yourselves.'
A number of fellow shoppers chimed in, agreeing with her sentiment:
'Honestly, I'm already struggling to pay for the tampons and grapes; that's 85c that I'll need tomorrow when I have to buy milk and bread,' said one. Another commented: 'Amen! I used to feel guilty saying no, but now I'm just an average single mum trying to do my best.'
A third chimed in: 'Preach it, sister.' One member shared: 'Finally, someone said it! I absolutely resent that EFTPOS shakeup tells me to donate at every place I go, be it petrol or groceries or whatever!'
Just a quick heads-up, everyone: the video below contains some strong language, so please be aware and decide whether you're comfortable watching it!
In response to the growing concern, a Woolworths spokesperson defended the donation prompts at self-serve registers, sharing their success in raising millions for charity.
'At Woolworths, supporting Australian communities is a top priority,' the spokesperson said. In addition to the company's commitment to community partners and not-for-profit organisations, they explained that customers were given the option for voluntary small change donations.
The spokesperson reassured that in the past two years, these small donations had accumulated millions for various partners and urged people to remember there's no obligation to donate.
It's wonderful to give back and support charities whenever possible, but it's essential never to feel obligated to donate if it becomes too burdensome for your personal finances.
Remember, you have the right to decline if you so choose, and there are always alternative ways to contribute or donate at a time that suits your financial situation better.
We'd love to hear your opinion on this! Do you find donation pop-ups helpful, or do they just become an annoyance? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!
Just the other day, there was this Woolworths shopper who made a video expressing their frustration about the supermarket's 'forced philanthropy' at the self-serve checkouts. The video caught the attention of many people on the internet and got quite a discussion going.
In the fiery video uploaded to social media, the passionate customer expressed her fury at the donation prompt that pops up when you're trying to pay for your groceries at the self-serve register.
The prompt asks customers if they'd like to round up their shopping total to a whole dollar, donating the excess to non-profit organisations. While people are free to tap 'yes' or 'no' to the donation, the situation has ignited a heated debate on the issue.
A shopper spoke out about the 'forced philanthropy' in supermarket checkouts. Credit: TikTok.
'Has anyone else just had a gutful of this forced philanthropy shakedown every time you go to the supermarket?' the frustrated woman asked in the video.
She continued: 'And I know what you're going to say, you can say to me “Oh, you know you can just say no” or “You can just press no”... But here's the thing. I do press no because I'm just morally opposed to multibillion-dollar companies doing shakedowns of consumers when they just want to buy red grapes and tampons.'
To address the retailer directly, she added, 'No, I don't want my 85c refund. What I do want is for you, as a multi-million-dollar conglomerate, to start making these donations yourselves.'
A number of fellow shoppers chimed in, agreeing with her sentiment:
'Honestly, I'm already struggling to pay for the tampons and grapes; that's 85c that I'll need tomorrow when I have to buy milk and bread,' said one. Another commented: 'Amen! I used to feel guilty saying no, but now I'm just an average single mum trying to do my best.'
A third chimed in: 'Preach it, sister.' One member shared: 'Finally, someone said it! I absolutely resent that EFTPOS shakeup tells me to donate at every place I go, be it petrol or groceries or whatever!'
Just a quick heads-up, everyone: the video below contains some strong language, so please be aware and decide whether you're comfortable watching it!
In response to the growing concern, a Woolworths spokesperson defended the donation prompts at self-serve registers, sharing their success in raising millions for charity.
'At Woolworths, supporting Australian communities is a top priority,' the spokesperson said. In addition to the company's commitment to community partners and not-for-profit organisations, they explained that customers were given the option for voluntary small change donations.
The spokesperson reassured that in the past two years, these small donations had accumulated millions for various partners and urged people to remember there's no obligation to donate.
It's wonderful to give back and support charities whenever possible, but it's essential never to feel obligated to donate if it becomes too burdensome for your personal finances.
Remember, you have the right to decline if you so choose, and there are always alternative ways to contribute or donate at a time that suits your financial situation better.
We'd love to hear your opinion on this! Do you find donation pop-ups helpful, or do they just become an annoyance? Please share your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!
.png){kind=icon}
